My New Blog

Fun In Flying?

May 10th, 2016 2:44 PM

Barbara’s Blog:

There was a time in the past when booking a flight to a destination was exciting, fun and something to anticipate. The very first time I was on an airplane, everyone was dressed professionally, including the passengers; the staff went above and beyond in service, and the passengers were polite and courteous. At that time, even the pilot came out to greet children and give them a special airline pin, telling them they had “earned their wings.” What a difference several decades have made!

The airlines themselves have now made flying miserable for most. Not only have prices skyrocketed for air fares, but add on fees for luggage, for food and drinks, and now for special seats on the plane, such as window or aisle seats, have made tickets almost unaffordable for many people. Misery is added by the TSA for extremely long lines through security, and sometimes embarrassing body scans. Yes, we live in a different world where security is necessary. However, there should be additional staff or ways of speeding up this process in airports where traffic is exceptionally heavy. Lost luggage is on the rise, and so are unruly passenger incidents. It simply is not fun to fly anymore.

Airlines boast exceptional profits each year, yet continue to charge passengers for more services. Many different airlines have had mechanical or cosmetic issues that make us wonder if inspections are as good as they used to be. Passengers would rather be on their cell phones or playing games than engage in conversations with others and many are rude and impatient.

No, flying is not as enjoyable as it used to be. With a transportation choice of “planes, trains, or automobiles” I think planes might rank as a last resort for many in the future.